Ian Barclay's Thought For The Day

A CHRISTIAN LOOKS AT MATTHEW’S GOSPEL
We mustn’t luxuriate in grief
Reading: Matthew: 9:18,19, 23-26 click to view passage

Matthew describes this incident more briefly than Mark and Luke, (Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56). Reading the other accounts we learn that Jairus was quite an important man, as the ruler of the synagogue. He would have been elected from among the elders of the synagogue and was responsible for ordering the worship and choosing the readers, prayers and preachers.
The “noisy crowd” was the result of three Jewish customs associated with death. (i) The rending of garments. There were 39 different rules that laid down exactly how garments were to be rent. (ii) The flute-players. Flute music was particularly linked with grief. (iii) Wailing for the dead would be done by a group of paid, professional, women.

The focus for a good number of funeral services is on the living not the dead and this crowd is luxuriating in its own grief. We will always feel grief at the loss of loved ones, that is a reality but it would seem from this passage that Jesus wants to clear away the “clutter” that, in human terms, can surround death. It could well be as we simply rejoice in the fact that a Christian loved one is in heaven, the world might laugh at us.

Meditate: At a funeral service how can I honour the one who has died?
Prayer Pointer: The death of a Christian loved one can be a wrench I need help to celebrate their life and glorify God.